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A MOST PLEASURABLE SIGHT

Arising from a most welcome event in Wilton today ....

Friday 6 January saw a most pleasurable sight in Wilton. The traffic lights had failed. There were no queues. All of the traffic flowed freely and pedestrians were easily able to cross the road in safety because drivers were free to use that unrecognised quality - initiative. It is what they were trained to do. The centre of Wilton once again bore the signs of intelligent life as it used to before the nanny state was imposed. All this proves my frequent statement that traffic lights cause congestion - upon which we are taxed.

By far the greatest delaying and congesting factor on our roads today, the monumental waste of “traffic time” by traffic lights is compound. Not only do they demand complete driver obedience but the light-change sequence itself brings additional delay. Successive driver reaction time means those at the back remain baulked by the lights. Frustration rises, impatience is followed by apathetic disregard and in Wilton, this results in drivers forcing their way through the narrow Silver Street gap increasing risk of vehicular damage.

Without traffic lights, there is no “passing on amber”, “running red lights”, speeding up to get through before the lights change or cyclists insidiously creeping round the corner no matter the traffic light colour. And though pedestrians may claim increased danger from constantly flowing traffic, in practice there is ample time to cross the road as drivers often wait to allow other vehicles out of side roads. The absence of all queues means ability to estimate arrival, considerably shorter journey times, instant access to junctions and crossroads, elevated spirits and thus much greater courtesy, thought and human interaction. Driving becomes pleasurable once more and progress is rapid while completely safe for all road users. Traffic lights should not be mandatory, but switched off.